Botox in Dentistry in 6 Questions
What is Botox?
Botox is a neurotoxin derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
What is the effect of Botox?
When Botox is injected, it creates temporary paralysis (paralysis) in the muscles because it blocks the nerve transmission. The muscles cannot function for 4-6 months, then the effect wears off and the transmission starts again.
What are the uses of Botox?
It is used in medicine and dentistry. The most common use of Botox is to soften facial lines. It is used in medicine for therapeutic and aesthetic purposes, in areas such as strabismus, forehead-glabella lines, crow’s feet lines, torticolis tremor, cerebral palsy, MS, migraine, armpit-hand-foot sweats.
In which areas is botox used in dentistry?
The area of use of Botox in dentistry is the mouth-jaw joint and the surrounding tissues: Hypertrophy and hyperactivity of the chewing muscles (masseter, temporal, pterygoid), temporomandibular joint (TMJ = Jaw Attachment) complaints, discollations, bruxism, trismus, smile called gum smile. Upward positioning of the upper lip and gingival appearance, salivary gland malfunctions (hypersalivation, Frey’s syndrome), relief of m.geniohyoides after orthognathic surgery, aesthetic and functional correction of the mimic muscles around the mouth and nose, tremor, tic, smoking, marionet ( sadness), functional and aesthetic correction of nasolabial lines, labial region and mentum region, muscle spasms, asymmetry, Vshape, spasticity, trigeminal neuralgia and myofacial pain.
Is botox application in dentistry a long-lasting treatment?The application time may take 15-20 minutes in a session.
Is botox application in dentistry a permanent treatment?
No, it is not permanent. Depending on the amount of the dose and the effective power of the toxin, the muscles cannot function for 4-6 months, and they function again at the end of the period. However, with repetitive applications, permanent paralysis may occur.
Is botox application in dentistry an expensive application?
Actually, it shouldn’t be expensive. However, since botox itself is expensive, the price may vary depending on the profit margin placed on it.
Pendik Hospital
Chief Physician Dt. Omer KADIOGLU